Mardonius
Posts: 654
Joined: 4/9/2007 From: East Coast Status: offline
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Gents: This ommision is a big one that would really add a great deal to the game if it could be reincorporated as an optional rule. Use of this rule invigorates diplomacy exponentially, as individual countries have diametrically opposite goals that follow historical examples. Makes things a whole lot more interesting. I would heartily encourage the incorporation of this optional rule at the soonest opportunity. Further, if it is adopted, I think it would be particularly vibrant if Matrix could offer it as an adoptable option to already established games. Best Mardonius 11.8 ALTERNATE DOMINANT POWERS: In EMPIRES IN ARMS, as with the historical events portrayed, France and Great Britain have obvious and constant qualitative advantages over the other five major powers and, although anyone can still win, they are the ‘dominant’ powers in the game and the centers of diplomatic activity. For example, if Prussia does very well early in a campaign game, it is still the rather puny Prussia of the Napoleonic period in terms of army factor morale, with the addition of some minor country corps for help. It is certainly not the dangerous Prussia of Frederick the Great less than 50 years earlier or the dominant Prussia (the basis of modern Germany) of 50 years later and will have trouble maintaining any early gains. Every one of the major powers in the game has the capability to become a dominant European power and, during the previous 200 years or during the next century, every one of them was or would be a dominant power. This option allows players, as the rulers of their respective major powers to alter the historical balance. 11.8.1 ACHIEVING OR LOSING DOMINANT POWER STATUS: In order for Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain or Turkey to become a dominant power, they must reach the New Political Combination Step of the Economic Phase at peace with all other major powers and in control of certain territories. In order for France or Great Britain or any other power that earlier achieved dominant status to lose their dominant status, they must reach the New Political Combinations Step of an Economic Phase at peace with all other major powers and not in control of the territories necessary to maintain their dominant power status. A France or Great Britain that earlier lost dominant power status may regain dominant power status if the reach the New Political Combinations Step at peace with all other major powers and in control of the territories needed to avoid the loss of dominant power status. Any changes in dominant power status must be announced in the New Political Combinations Step. 11.8.2 EFFECTS OF ACHIEVING OR LOSING DOMINANT POWER STATUS: 11.8.2.1 MORALE: If Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain, or Turkey become dominant powers, the morale value of the dominant power’s regular infantry is increased by ‘+1.0’ and, for Spanish and Turkish regular cavalry, morale is also increased by ‘+1.0’ (sic) Turkish dominant power feudal infantry and feudal cavalry have the morale increased by ‘+0.5.’ If France or Great Britain lose their dominant status, the morale of the diminished status major power’s regular infantry is reduced by ‘-1.0’. 11.8.2.2 CHANGED NAVAL ADVANTAGES: For Great Britain, the loss of dominant status also means their fleets lose their ‘+1’ die roll modifier in naval combats and they must always take the first sequence in a Naval Phase. If Austria and/or Prussia become dominant powers their fleets lose the ‘-1’ die roll modifier in naval combats. 11.8.2.3 CHANGED LAND PHASE SEQUENCE: If Austria, Prussia, Spain and/or Turkey becomes a dominant power, France no longer gets to chose its spot in the sequence but must always take the first sequence in the Land Phase. If two or more of Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain or Turkey become a dominant power, while France is not a dominant power, France must always take the first sequence in the Land Phase. If only one of Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain or Turkey is a dominant power while France is not a dominant power, France takes the major power’s usual step while the dominant power may announce when it will take its sequence, the same as France usually does. 11.8.2.4 INCOME CHANGES: For Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain or Turkey, their total major power income is automatically increased by 10 money points on the Money and Manpower Collection Steps of Every Economic Phase while a dominant power. For France and Great Britain, their total major power income is automatically reduced by 10 money points on the Money and Manpower Collection Steps of Every Economic Phase while not a dominant power. 11.8.2.5. LEADER IMPROVEMENTS: If Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain or Turkey become a dominant power, the controlling player may select one leader and consider that, for that one leader, there is an increase in the strategic, tactical, and tactical maximum rating numbers of ‘+1.” EXCEPTION: No leader’s ratings may be considered to be increased to exceed ‘5-5-6’. 11.8.2.6 PROVINCE CHANGES: At the moment a major power becomes a dominant power, all ceded provinces of other major powers that it controls become unceded provinces of the new dominant power’s home nation. Any ceded provinces acquired later remain ceded provinces. 11.8.3. CONTROLLED TERRITORY REQUIRED TO GAIN DOMINANT STATUS: The following territories must be controlled by the given major power in order to achieve dominant status. 11.8.3.1 AUSTRIA: Must control all home nation provinces plus any 5 of the following 7 territories: the Bosnia province, the Confederation of the Rhine (even if reduced after creation – if not using option 11.5, Austria must control at least 5 out of Baden, Bavaria, Hanover, Hesse, Saxony, or Wurttemburg, which count together as one territory), the Kingdom of Italy (even if reduced after creation – if not using option 11.2, Austria must control Lombardy, Papacy and Venetia which count together as one territory), the Piedmont Minor Country, the Serbia province, the Silesia province, and the Switzerland minor country. 11.8.3.2 PRUSSIA: Must control all home nation provinces plus any 4 of the following 6 territories: the Confederation of the Rhine (even if reduced after creation – if not using option 11.5, Austria must control at least 5 out of Baden, Bavaria, Hanover, Hesse, Saxony, or Wurttemburg, which count together as one territory), the Denmark minor country (with or without Norway), the Lorrain Province, the Palatinate minor country, the Moravia province and Poland (must be created). 11.8.3.3 RUSSIA: Must control all home nation provinces plus any 6 of the following 7 territories: Armenia province, Bessarabia province, East Galicia Province, Moldavia province, Poland (must be created), the minor country of Sweden (must include Finland), and West Galicia. 11.8.3.4 SPAIN: Must control all home nation provinces plus all 5 of the following territories: the minor country of Gibralter (sic), the Kingdom of Italy (even if reduced after creation – if not using option 11.2, Austria must control Lombardy, Papacy and Venetia which count together as one territory), the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (both Naples and Sicily) the minor country of Morocco, and the minor country of Portugal. 11.8.3.5 TURKEY: Must control all home nation provinces plus any 5 of the following 6 territories: the Crimea province, the Georgia province, the Military Border province, the Ottoman empire (even if reduced after creation – of not using option 11.6, Turkey must control five out of Algeria, Cyrenica, Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Tripolitania or Tunisia, which count together as one territory), the Podolia province and the Transylvania province. 11.8.4 CONTROLLED TERRITORY LOSSES REQUIRED TO LOSE DOMINANT STATUS: France and Great Britain start as dominant powers and, to lose dominant status, must lose control of the following territories: 11.8.4.1 FRANCE: Must lose control of any 6 of the following 7 territories: the Flanders minor country, the Holland minor country, the Lombardy minor country, the Lorraine Province, the Palatinate minor country, the Piedmont minor country and the Switzerland minor country. 11.8.4.2 GREAT BRITAIN: Must lose control of any 6 of the following 7 territories: the minor country Gibralter (sic), the Hanover Minor country (already lost at the start of every campaign game), the Ireland province, the Malta minor country, the Portugal minor country (neutral and not controlled by Great Britain in Campaign games starting in 1805), the Scotland province and the Wales province.
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"Crisis is the rallying cry of the tyrant" -- James Madison "Yes, you will win most battles, but if you loose to me you will loose oh so badly that it causes me pain (chortle) just to think of it" - P. Khan
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